This study is not currently recruiting Study Participants on ClinicalConnection.com. If you would like to find active studies please search for clinical trials.

New Haven,
Connecticut06520

Purpose:

The main purpose of this protocol is to study the effect of an HIV medication, Kaletra
(lopinavir/ritonavir), on buprenorphine in non-HIV infected people who have been receiving
the same dose of buprenorphine for at least 3 weeks.
Study Hypothesis:
Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) will increase buprenorphine plasma levels without any
significant clinical effect on the subject or need for dose adjustment.

Study summary:

Buprenorphine (BUP) is a partial opiate agonist dosed sublingually for both supervised
opiate withdrawal and maintenance for opiate dependence. Until recently, methadone has been
the mainstay of pharmacological treatment for opiate-dependent persons with HIV infection.
In October, 2002, buprenorphine (BUP) was approved for opiate maintenance and can be
prescribed by primary care physicians. It is anticipated that many HIV specialists will
begin prescribing BUP for their HIV+ patients on ARVs with a history of opiate dependence.
This will continue to increase in importance as a method of treatment for this patient
population for the following reasons: 1) Multiple federal programs are working to encourage
the use of BUP in primary care, especially HIV primary care, settings. The goal of these
programs is to increase opiate treatment slots across the country. 2) Many methadone
programs have wait lists or regulations (e.g., daily dosing) which may not be possible for
some patients. BUP, with its flexibility in dosing and ease of use, will increasingly
become a first line in the treatment of opioid dependence.
Buprenorphine administration carries the theoretical risk of drug interactions with respect
to both inhibition or induction of BUP as well as similar effects on medications
co-administered with BUP. Interactions may lead to under or overdosing of buprenorphine
and/or antiretroviral agents with resultant adverse clinical consequences.
Buprenorphine's effects on Kaletra and other ARVs cannot be predicted based on prior
experience with methadone because BUP metabolism appears to differ from methadone in terms
of its substrate and effects on cytochrome P450.
Limited information currently exists regarding interactions between HIV therapeutic agents
and buprenorphine. Similar to buprenorphine, the protease inhibitors, and NNRTIs are
metabolized primarily via the CYP3A4 isozyme of the cytochrome P450 system. The extent to
which methadone levels decrease with induction of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes has been
correlated clinically with severity of symptoms of withdrawal. Similar studies with
buprenorphine are not yet available. Interactions between buprenorphine and antiretroviral
agents may complicate the management of HIV disease when these medications are
coadministered. In a small sample study, there was no increase in buprenorphine dosing
required when co-administered with Sustiva. However, in one study with liver microsomes,
ritonavir inhibited the metabolism of buprenorphine at CYP 3A4, but the clinical
significance of this inhibition could not be demonstrated. It is well known that in vitro
and in vivo studies do not fully correlate with one another and empiric pharmacologic
interaction studies in human subjects are necessary.
The treatment of opiate addiction is a complicated and labor intensive practice. This study
will require the use of Kaletra alone in HIV negative opiate dependent patients. This is
critical to ascertain the reality of both objective data (levels of buprenorphine and
lopinavir), as well as valid subjective symptoms of opiate withdrawal (symptoms that addicts
have previously experienced and can more readily communicate).

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:
- Chronic BUP users enrolled in BUP program, receiving BUP for at least 3 months and on
a stable BUP dose for at least 3 weeks.
- Acceptable medical history, physical examination, 12 lead electrocardiogram, and
clinical laboratory evaluations consistent with BUP maintenance
- Subjects who meet the criteria of opiate dependence, are enrolled in long-term BUP
maintenance therapy, and have been on a stable dose of BUP for at least 3 weeks.
- Body weight >60 kg for males and >40 kg for females
- Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18 to 30 kg/m2, inclusive. BMI = weight (kg)/ [height (m)]2.
- Male or females, ages 18 to 65 years.
- Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must not be nursing, pregnant and on adequate
non-hormonal contraception to avoid pregnancy. WOCBP must have a negative serum or
urine pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of HCG) within
24 hours prior to the start of Study Day 1.
Exclusion Criteria:
Sex and Reproductive Status Exceptions
- WOCBP who are unwilling or unable to use an acceptable method to avoid pregnancy for
the entire study period and for up to 4 weeks before and after the study.
- WOCBP using a prohibited contraceptive method (oral, injectable, or implantable
hormonal agents)
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Women with a positive pregnancy test on enrollment or prior to study drug
administration.
Medical History and Concurrent Diseases
- History or current evidence of any significant acute or chronic medical illness that,
within the investigator's discretion, would interfere with the conduct or
interpretation of the study.
- History of nephrolithiasis
- History of acute or chronic pancreatitis.
- History of uncontrolled chronic medical illness which could adversely affect the
subject's adherence to study protocol or affect patient safety in the opinion of the
investigator
- Use of any medication thought to significantly alter the metabolism of Kaletra,
Buprenorphine or naloxone.
- History of any hemolytic disorders (including drug-induced hemolysis).
- Proven or suspected acute hepatitis at the time of study entry.
- Current or recent (within 3 months) gastrointestinal disease which would interfere
with the conduct or interpretation of the study.
- Any major surgery within 4 weeks of enrollment. Minor surgical procedures requiring
local anesthesia are exceptions.
- Any gastrointestinal surgery that could impact upon the absorption of study drug.
- Donation of blood or plasma to a blood bank or in a clinical study (except a
screening visit) within 4 weeks of enrollment.
- Blood transfusion within 4 weeks of enrollment.
- Inability to tolerate oral medication.
- Inability to tolerate venipuncture and/or absence of secure venous access.
- Inability to refrain from smoking during in-patient period
- Known or suspected HIV infection (subjects who are found to be positive upon screen
for HIV will be excluded).
- Known active drug or alcohol abuse, which in the opinion of the investigator makes
study participation to completion unlikely.
- Any other sound medical, psychiatric and/or social reason as determined by the
Investigator.
Physical and Laboratory Test Findings
- Evidence of organ dysfunction or any clinically relevant deviations from the norms
observed in a buprenorphine treated population in physical examination, vital signs,
ECG or clinical laboratory determinations.
- Ingestion of alcohol within 24 hours prior to the dose of study medication
- Positive breathalyzer alcohol test, or positive urine screen for barbiturates,
benzodiazepines, amphetamines or opiates other than buprenorphine.
- Positive blood screen for HIV antibody.
- QTc interval >450 msec for males or >470 msec for females.
- Second or third-degree AV block.
- Creatinine clearance(as estimated by method of Cockcroft and Gault) less than 80
mL/min.
- CLcr=0.85(females only)x(140-age)x weight(kg)
- serum creatinine(mg/dL)x 72
- Subjects with bilirubin >2 mg/dL, serum albumin <2.5 g/dL and ascites, AST and ALT >3
times ULN, hemoglobin <9 g/dL, and platelet count <75,000/mm3.
- Positive serum or urine for HCG.

NCT ID:

NCT00571961

Primary Contact:

Principal InvestigatorRobert D Bruce, MDYale University

Backup Contact:

N/A

Location Contact:

New Haven, Connecticut 06520United States

There is no listed contact information for this specific location.

Site Status: N/A

Data Source: ClinicalTrials.gov

Date Processed: August 17, 2017

Modifications to this listing: Only selected fields are shown, please use the link below to view all information about this clinical trial.